Florida soccer fans will get a preliminary look at the U.S. Olympic teams preparing for the 1996 Olympics when they play five games in Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando in February.
The U.S. women’s national team, which finished third in the 1995 Women’s World Cup, plays world champion Norway Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. (EST) at the University of Tampa. The U.S. men’s under-23 team plays Norway’s U-23 team immediately following in the second game of the doubleheader.
Two days later, the same teams meet in Jacksonville. The U-23s host Norway in a 2 p.m. (EST) kickoff at Municipal Stadium, followed by the women’s rematch. The U-23 contest, presented by MasterCard, will be broadcast live by Prime. The women’s game, presented by Kodak, will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis by ESPN2, airing Feb. 5 at 4 p.m.
The women’s team plays Denmark — one of eight teams that has qualified for the 1996 Olympics — at Edgewater High School in Orlando Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. (EST).
The U.S. men’s under-23 team is currently training in Chula Vista, Calif., where it lost to the U.S. national team 3-1 in a scrimmage Jan. 7. Virginia’s Damian Silvera scored the only goal for the Olympic prospects. Joe-Max Moore led Steve Sampson’s national team with a pair of goals.
The U.S. women are heading to Brazil tomorrow for a tournament Jan. 13-21 with Russia, Ukraine and host Brazil, another Olympic finalist.
For ticket information for the Florida games, call:
Tampa doubleheader — Scott DeBolt at the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues’ new Tampa headquarters: (813) 963-3909.
Jacksonville doubleheader — Jacksonville Sports Development Authority: (904) 630-4087. Or Ticketmaster: (904) 353-3309.
Orlando game — Dean O’Keefe at Florida Citrus Sports: (407) 423-2476.